Women's tennis player Luisa Renovales advances to national tournament semifinals
Eastern Florida State College women's tennis player Luisa Renovales battled through cramps to defeat the No. 2 seed and advance to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament semifinals at No. 6 singles
Eastern Florida State College women's tennis player Luisa Renovales became the fourth player in program history to advance to the semifinals of the NJCAA Division I National Tournament in Tyler, Texas.
The freshman battled cramping in hands and legs and the No. 2 seed Hrudaya Shah in the quarterfinals, expending every bit of her energy to pick up the victory at No. 6 singles and advance to the semifinals of the national tournament.
Renovales won the first set, 6-2, but Shah forced a third set with a 6-4 second set win. Renovales began to cramp late in the second set and after getting a bit of a breather between sets, came back out and battled for every point in the third set.
"I just kept telling myself I was not quitting, I had to keep pushing," Renovales said. "It hurt so much, but I did not want to quit so I just kept fighting."
Tied 4-4, Renovales broke Shah and then served for the win.
"Everyone was cheering for me, I could barely hold back the tears. St. Petersburg, Hillsborough and other teams were all cheering me on, it was amazing," Renovales said. "As soon as I won I burst into tears, both happy and from the pain. I had to be helped off the court and get treatment as soon as it ended."
Renovales will play No. 3 seed Camila Neyra from Cowley College at 8 a.m. Tuesday in Texas. Neyra advanced to the semifinals with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Collin College's Margaryta Bugaienko.
"I am so excited to play again tomorrow, this is a dream for me. I did not expect to make it this far but you can bet that I am going to fight as hard as I can to keep playing," Renovales said.
No. 4 singles player Lucia Lucas Martinez fell in the quarterfinals to Tyler Junior College's Yeva Kramarova as the No. 2 seed won in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2.
Martinez teamed with Paige Noble Lucas in a quarterfinals match at No. 3 doubles, losing to No. 4 seed Lilia Jerry and Patricia Principal. After winning a tight first set 7-6, the duo lost the next two 6-4, 6-1.
No. 5 singles player Helena Jokanovic also lost in the quarterfinals, falling to Tyler Junior College's Natalia Michta. Jokanovic lost to the No. 3 seed 6-2, 6-2.
Two singles players and a doubles team advanced to the semifinals of the consolation bracket on Monday.
At No. 2 singles, Simona Karlsson Hantzis advanced to the consolation semifinals with an 8-1 win over Central Alabama's Jane League. The win put Karlsson in the semifinals where she will play Moraine Valley CC's Simona Tomczak at Tuesday at 8 a.m. Tomczak advanced with a tiebreaker win.
No. 3 singles player Gloria Barcaro defeated Justine Azarak 8-2 to advance to the consolation semifinals on Monday. Barcaro will play Taji Williams Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.
The No. 2 doubles team of Gloria Barcaro and Emma Sanchez also advanced to the consolation semifinals after defeating Eastern Arizona's Laura Coulome and Hannah Miller 8-0. Barcaro and Sanchez will play Mississippi Gulf Coast CC's Kendall Burn and Hayden Hensarling in the semifinals after the duo won 8-0. The match will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
The Titans head into Day 4 in 10th place overall.
